Exactly What I Needed Today

I have been keeping myself so busy with the kids the last two days playing endless backyard baseball, board games, and other things to keep my mind off of my current situation. I know there are so many tragic things going on in people's lives right now, that I always hate to bring up my own trials. I have always tried to do my best on this site to be real, but also to be as positive as I can because I am a firm believer in "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things(Phil 4:8)." Therefore, I tend to retreat from friends and those most close to me when I am in need. I guess when you surround yourself with amazing christian women who live out daily such beauty and grace in their lives, it is hard to let them know that you are "one of those women" dealing with some pretty tough stuff. When I say tough stuff, it means that I feel I am in a pit. Beth Moore says, "...you can know you're in a pit when...you feel stuck...you can't stand up..and you've lost vision..." Unfortunately, I feel all these things right now. Thank goodness I didn't get rid of "Get Out of the Pit" after I read it months ago when I wasn't feeling this way at all. There is such biblical truths in this book, and over the next few days, I am going to ask God specifically to show me through his word and Beth's book, exactly how I can get out of the pit Skip and I are stuck in right now. We can no longer financially live in our current house on our new salary, and it is getter tougher week by week. I know God is right beside me, and I feel His presence so completely, but I just don't want to go on living apart from my husband for months to come. I want my house sold, and I want my family together. I am of course asking all this in Jesus' precious name.

Thank you so much to all of you who continue to pray for me daily and send such encouraging emails to me. I know God will use all of these struggles to grow me and Skip. I also know that the last thing Satan wants is for Skip and I to be together serving the Lord in our new church. I pray that God is allowing this to happen to bring more glory and praise to Him in ways I could never fathom.

After the kids were sick of me today, I went around to get inspired and refreshed by all of you lovely ladies out there. What I found was inspiration, humor and two special awards that I had no idea I had received. One was from "N" at Mayhem and Miracles. The blogger reflection award has been going around for quite some time, but today it was for me. I'm sure she had no idea how much it blessed me, but I am smiling from ear to ear. This award is for "someone who is an encouragement, a source of love, someone who has impacted you in some way, and has been a godly example to you. " Thank you "N" for thinking of me, and I want you to know I feel the same way about you.
As I was going by one of my favorite sites, I realized that I had never read this post from Bev at Scratchin the Surface. I was so touched that she included me in her awards for "Nice Matters". Thank you Bev, and I know you think I look young on my photo, but believe my there are wrinkles everywhere. I'm almost 40 for goodness sakes.

With both of these awards, you are to find 5 people to pass the award on to. I am such a loyal, middle-child, hates to leave anyone out kind of person, that I just can't choose only 5 for each one. I love every blog I go to daily, and each one is special and unique. You know if I come by and comment regularly that I am touched by you and your blog. Besides, my daughter is kicking me off the computer right now so she can IM her Bff or whatever they call it. I am so out of the loop.